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T O P I C R E V I E W

Wehaveliftoff

The new Coin World Nov. 15, 2010 issue (pp. 18, 22) states the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) agreed with the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) in supporting a congressional medal with the faces of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and John Glenn, in their spacesuits, to adorn the obverse of the medal, and the Apollo lunar module and Mercury spacecraft as the reverse.

Astronauts gold medal

The committee bowed to the wishes of four of the nation's first astronauts, endorsing an obverse design for a congressional gold medal to honor their exploits in space.

The medal honors John Glenn for becoming the first American to orbit the Earth in space on Feb. 20 1962, and the Apollo 11 moon landing mission of Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins in July 1969.

By a large margin, the CCAC endorsed a design favored by the astronauts, giving their selection 25 out of a possible 27 points. (More committee members were present when the medal was discussed than had been present for the review of the coin designs.)

But the committee dissented from the requested reverse for the medal, giving no votes to the astronauts' preferred design and recommending another design.

The CCAC's preferred design features a lunar lander hovering over the moon and a Mercury capsule over the Earth. It received 20 out of the possible 27 votes.

Committee members also voted to remove the language "Act of Congress, 2009" from the medal by a 5 to 4 vote.

It also voted unanimously to urge that the quote "We Came in Peace" on the reverse be expanded to add the words "For All Mankind." These are the words on a plaque left on the moon by Armstrong and Aldrin.

Much of the hour-long debate over the medal dealt with the role of astronaut Michael Collins, whom Michael Brown decried as "the most under appreciated astronaut."

During the mission, Collins remained above in orbit around the moon in the command module while Armstrong and Aldrin explored the moon's surface.

The CFA has agreed to back the same obverse and reverse recommended by the CCAC.

Robert Pearlman

Coin Update Newsshares more details about the vote by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which led to their recommending the design reported by Coin World.

Here are the four obverse and seven reverse designs that were under consideration (via Coin Update News).

cddfspace

Do we know which reverse was preferred by the astronauts that was rejected?

Robert Pearlman

According to Coin World, the astronauts' preferred reverse received no votes and according to Coin Update News, designs 6 and 7 both received zero votes, so we can narrow it to one of those two...

Hart Sastrowardoyo

I can just see the selected reverse giving rise to the hypothetical debate, "What if Mercury 10 was sent to the moon with an early LEM?"

cspg

All designs would make nice coins/medallions- but I guess none would be made available to the public (non-gold ones, that is), right?

Robert Pearlman

Per the bill that authorized the gold medals being awarded:

The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

...which is to say, yes, the U.S. Mint can offer bronze copies of the gold medal to the public, as they have done before.

Robert Pearlman

The U.S. Mint will offer 1.5-inch (3.8 cm) and 3-inch (7.6 cm) bronze replicas of the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal beginning at 11:00 a.m. CST (1700 GMT) on Nov. 16 for $7.95 and $44.95 respectively.

Credit: NASA/Stephanie Schierholz

tnperri

Got my order in. Thanks for the heads up.

Robert Pearlman

For those ordering, note that the U.S. Mint offers separately display boxes for its 1.5-inch and 3-inch medals. These cases are on backorder however, until Nov. 30.

cspg

Robert, thanks a lot for all the info and links. Much appreciated.

The US Mint could teach the USPS a thing or two about how to operate a web site for international customers!

tnperri

Got mine in the mail today. Nice.

Apollo 8

I received mine today! Beautiful!

I like the backside of the medal with moon rising behind earth, the Mercury capsule and the LM. This would have been nice for a commemorative patch too! Unfortunately there is none...

mikelynaugh

I just received my coins the other day and was a little disappointed and had a question that I hoped you guys could help me with.

I picked up the 1.5 inch version and was surprised to see how subtle the details look. I collect coins and have even gotten another 1.5 inch coin from the US Mint (Tuskegee Airmen Medal), and the only way I can see the details in this new coin is if I stand at just the right angle and just the right light.

I have three coin cases that hang on my wall and it is very hard to see just how nice this coin really is.

I was thinking about picking up the 3 inch version, but I am curious if it more closely resembles the photos on the U.S. Mint page and above?

I love the design of this coin, but I want to be able to show it off with the rest of my collection without telling people they have to stand "over here" to see it.

Please let me know what you guys think about the 3 inch version.

DSeuss5490

I would agree that I was very disappointed with the 1.5 inch version. I also bought a 3" medal and the detail is 1000% better in my opinion and closely resembles the photos — and at about 9 ounces (weighed on my postal scale) its quite a heavy, impressive coin.

mikelynaugh

Ok good, so I am not crazy, and it is worth the money for the bigger one. My only problem is that the 3 inch won't fit in my case with all my other coins, so that is a pain, but I am happy to hear the details are there on the large version. Thanks for your quick reply.

cspg

quote:Originally posted by DSeuss5490:I would agree that I was very disappointed with the 1.5 inch version. I also bought a 3" medal and the detail is 1000% better in my opinion and closely resembles the photos

I agree.

mikelynaugh

I received my 3 inch medallion today, and first off I couldn't believe how quickly the Mint shipped it. But most importantly, WOW, now THIS is what I am talking about. I am much happier with this coin.

The details are all there, and it really is heavy. I wish it fit in my case with my other coins, but I gotta say it looks awfully nice sitting here on my desk.

Thanks for your help guys.

jeffbassett

I never picked up one of these and decided to get one this week. The price has lowered to $39.95. I don't know how much longer these are suppose to be available, so thought it would be worth a bumped post.

spaceman1953

I always was pleasantly surprised at how nice the smaller ones were, so I took advantage of my limited funds and ordered a few of those.

I bet the big ones are REALLY nice!

I have seen the small ones for Charles Schultz, Ted Hesburgh and the Billy Grahams.

TRS

Just ordered mine - how on earth did I miss these before? Agreed that many organisations (NASA included) could take a leaf out of the mint's ease of ordering process for us international buyers!

jeffbassett

Ordered min on the 28th, arrived today on the 9th. A non descriptive box with just the coin itself, but the 3 inch coins is beautifully rendered. Definitely worth getting if you can.

I also received the 1.5 inch coin however the reliefs are so flat against the coin you can almost only make the artwork out with the right light facing the coin. The details get lost due to the poor striking and lack of depth of the imprints. This is a newly minted one and the die may be at the end life cycle as i was disappointed at how poorly you can make out the design on the 1.5 inch diameter coin.

So, if you do decide to get one, go with the 3 inch coin, really the by far best way to get a great display piece.

Robert Pearlman

quote:Originally posted by jeffbassett:A non descriptive box with just the coin itself...

I highly recommend ordering the Mint's display box as it compliments and enhances the medal's appearance (there's a version for the 1.5 inch medal, too).

Mercurypgm

The US Mint is still offering these in two sizes. One is 3" in diameter and is $39.95.The second is 1 1/2 in diameter and is offered at 6.95. Shipping is extra. If anyone is interested they can look them up on the US Mint website (make sure you are accessing the correct site) or you can contact the US Mint at 1-800-USA-MINT.